Saturday, May 3 – World Press Freedom Day marks the United Nation’s celebration of the press. The UN calls on us to recognize “fundamental principles of press freedom; … to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.”

Sunday, May 4 — Ascension Sunday commemorates the “going up” into heaven by Jesus Christ. A suggested reading is Acts 1:1-11.

Thursday, May 8 — Yom Ha’Atzmaut marks the 60th anniversary of the declaration of independence of the modern state of Israel in 1948. Most Arabs and Palestinians refer to this day as al-Nakba, the disaster.

Thursday, May 8 — World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, their campaign — Take a look. Stigma kills — this year “calls on us to unite to halt stigma and discrimination, particularly as it affects people with AIDS and their families.”